Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-12-30

tho frivolous youth of Barmouth insisted
that 1t was simply matter of time as to the
ultimate matrimonial results
Three times year Mrs Mack had been
In the habit of giving DR. Blake @warning"
In more or less impassioned terms The
alleged causes were sins of omission or COM
mission on the respective parts of the SHRED
help" Bob, the office-boy, and Miss Doris
Lane, the Doctors nineteen-year old ward
1t WINS the morning after Christmas Day
In the year of grace 1SS-. DR.. Blake was
In his library and Office combined, hoping
for quiet hour with the Lancet, which he
held in his hand with pages uncut, as Mrs
Mack, whose black eyes were swapping ON
lnously, fungi use the word advisedly-
into the room
With premonition of what was coming
the Doctor laid aside the pamphlet
"Wen, Mrs Mack" he said, wenrily,
"which-that is, Who'll mean, what is 1t
uowfr
This day week, DR. Blake, either Miss
Doris or leave-you can choose between
us" responded the Widow Mack, with om-
inous calmness Barring the name of the
offender, her formula of warning was nj
ways the same. Possibly she dreamed that
by patient persistence in this line the Doc
tor in some unguarded moment might be
led to say: sThen, Mrs Mack my advice
will be-yourself
Why not? The widow only acknowledged
to thirty-six, her figure was trim, her face
not uncomely AM she held property in her
own right In addition TO this her cookery
was unequaled, and is itnot recorded that
masculine hearts untouched by personal
charms have been reached through the vul-
gar medium of the stomach?
Not being the dirt under Miss Doris
feet" acrimonously continued Mrs Mack,
before De Blake could sp sak, ~ don't pro-
pose being trod on no longer. The ideal"
said the irato lady, with backward toss of
her head; ordering me out OF her study'er
Just bee iuse said her going on with your
nevew, Paul Blake, was SC indalous! Things
have come to q pretty pass in his house,
think"
DR.. Blake groaned in spirit MS Mrs
Mack slammed the door behind her
why can't she lot Doris alone" he nut
tered, and when he said "Dorls" It was with
n peculiarly tender infection But that,
perhaps, was because of the semi-parental
relation in which he pretended to stand
toward her.
DR.. Blake communed with himself for
moment or two and then, laying aside the
uncut pamphlet, rose and regarded himself
cur ously in the glass over the mnnteL
You're nothing but an old fool, Paul
Blake" he said, turning abruptly away. Yet
the earnest, scholIrly face and dark inscrut-
able eyes which had returned his brief
glance were by no means deserving of such
scathing remark But in comparison with
his nephew, Paul Blake, the doctor regarded
himself as modern Methuselah.
Doris Yane's 'study'e was rather coy
interior formed by parting portion of the
attic proper with some faded chintz cur
tains rummaged out from the big cedar
wood chest in the corner One of the hang
ings was pushed back for better side light,
and DR.. Blake, who had soughC the attic
with view of reconciling Doris and Mrs
Mack, stood still Mt the head OF the stairs
regarding the chintz- framed picture before
him.
Under the sky-light in the roof was an
easel supporting a partly finished portrait
in oil Before 1t, holding palette and
mahl-stick in rest, stood pretty Doris, the
grace full outlines of whose figure even the
ugly blue bottomed blouse reaching to her
feet could not hide.
Reclining ut ease in an old arm chair near
the little air-tight stove which served to
warm the interior, was Paul Blake, the
doctors good-looking artist nephew, twirl-
ing an unlighted cigarette between his slim
white fingers.
DelOrc DOcVOT Dluho cOuiu step forward
to announce his presence, Paul spoke-evi-
IDENTIFY Gpropos OF some thing under discus
sion.
ITS no use talking, Doris, " he said, some
what petulantly. III uncle Paul won't give
his consent to our marriage, as you seem to
think, why we must do without it, that's
all"
Doctor Blake turned very pale rs he
heard these words not intended for his ear
But pulling himself together with an effort,
he stepped forward.
At his unexpected appearance Doris
gave sudden start and, crimsoning to her
fair temple, threw cloth over the portrait
But not before Doctor Blake had caught a
& impsc of )iis nephew's broad white fore
head and expressive eyes
The Doctor, pretending to have heard and
seen nothing, greeted Paul with his usual
easy courtesy. But that usually self-pos-
sessed young man, muttering something
about previous engagement, made hasty
exit, leaving the Doctor and his ward alone
together.
Silent and distrdt, and utterly unlike the
happy young girl who was accustomed to
greet him with her brightest smile, Doris
stood with downcast eyes seemingly intent
ON studying the colors ON her palette.
Now his nephew's fragmentnry speech
had completely upset Doctor Blake-if /
may use the homely simile. He had known
for some time that Paul had persistently